Why Was A Local Bid On The Woodward Rail Project Rejected?

DETROIT (WWJ) – The head of the M-1 rail project in Detroit is denying claims that a local contractor lost out on work as a result of being caught up in the failed jail debacle.

Paul Childs, COO of M-1 Rail, says the controversy surrounding Walbridge Construction’s involvement in the Wayne County jail project is not the reason why the company’s bid to do work on the 3.3-mile Woodward Ave. light rail system was rejected.

Interview: Paul Childs

The contract for the Woodward rail project eventually went to California company.

Construction on the Wayne County jail, originally budgeted to cost $300 million, was halted in June after county officials received a report from AECOM which said the actual cost had increased to $391 million.

There’s been a lot of finger-pointing over the failed jail, but John Rakolta Jr., chairman and CEO of Walbridge Construction, said his company is not at fault.

Vickie Thomas is the City Beat Reporter for WWJ Newsradio 950. She was raised in Highland Park, “The City of Trees” — that was before the July 2, 1997 storm blew through the area. She covered the storm for WWJ that evening and the clean up over the...